"Esther, The Musical" will return to the Succop Theater at Butler County Community College at 7:30 p.m. March 5 and 6. "Esther" tells the story of an Old Testament heroine being in the right place at the right time. The show created by Jeannie Allen of Valencia was first staged in March 2007. Lead roles are played by Mary Phillips of Baden, and Dave Sloboda, Sam Bartley and Jay Toogood, all of Butler. Tickets are $15 in advance or $18 at the door. Students pay $10, and children younger than 7 are admitted free. Call 888-2829, Ext. 8429 or 724-284-8505. Tickets can also be ordered online at www.bc3.edu/theater.

Butler Little Theatre will present "Dinner with Friends" March 12 to 20 at the theater at One Howard St. Relationships are the focus of this 2000 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Donald Margulies. This show contains adult language and subject matter. Curtain is at 8:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays during the run of the show. Tickets are $10. Call 724-287-6781 between 7 and 9 p.m. Visit the Web site, www.bltgroup.org.

<B>"Xanadu,"</B> winner of the Best New Musical 2008 — Outer Critics Circle Award, is being staged through Sunday at the Benedum Center, 719 Liberty Ave. "Xanadu" takes audiences back to 1980s California, following the magical and beautiful Greek muse, Kira, who descends from the heavens to inspire the greatest of artistic achievements — the first roller disco! Xanadu is based on the 1980 movie of the same name that starred Olivia Newton-John. The musical adaptation made its Broadway debut in 2007. Tickets range from $21 to $62 and are available by calling 412-456-6666 or online at www.pgharts.org.<B>Vincentian Academy</B> will stage Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Catherine Thomas Theatre, St. Benedict Center, 4530 Perrysville Ave., Ross Township. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children age 12 and younger. Call 412-364-1616, Ext. 219.<B>CLO Cabaret</B> is presenting "Forever Plaid" through March 28 at the CLO Cabaret at Theater Square, 655 Penn Ave. "The Plaids" is the story of a 1950s all-male singing group. Tickets are $39.50 for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, $44.50 for Saturday evenings, and $34.50 for matinees. Call 412-456-6666.